Sliding connector spool

Abstract

An embodiment includes a spool that may expand and contract to ease removal and addition of components to an oilfield manifold.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 accessing a spool for oilfield manifolds, the spool comprising: (1) a first conduit; (2) a second conduit including threads; (3) a third conduit coupled to the first and second conduits; and (4) a fourth conduit, the fourth conduit including threads that engage the threads of the second conduit; 
 coupling the first conduit to a first flange via a first ring joint gasket; 
 coupling the second conduit to a second flange via a second ring joint gasket; 
 wherein rotating the fourth conduit about an axis in a first rotational direction moves the second conduit linearly along the axis in a first linear direction; and 
 wherein rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in a second rotational direction moves the second conduit linearly along the axis in a second linear direction; 
 wherein the first, second, and third conduits collectively form a channel that couples first and second opposing ends of the spool to one another and which includes the axis; 
 wherein the first and second rotational directions are opposite of each other and the first and second linear directions are opposite of each other. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the first rotational direction to move the second conduit linearly along the axis in the first linear direction; and 
 shortening an overall length of the spool in response to rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the first rotational direction. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  comprising removing the spool from a manifold in response to shortening the overall length of the spool. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the removing the spool from the manifold is performed without altering a physical location of the first flange and without altering a physical location of the second flange. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  comprising adding the spool to the manifold or an additional manifold in response to lengthening the overall length of the spool. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  comprising adding the spool to the manifold without altering the physical location of the first flange and without altering the physical location of the second flange. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2  comprising:
 rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the second rotational direction to move the second conduit linearly along the axis in the second linear direction; and 
 lengthening the overall length of the spool in response to rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the second rotational direction. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the second rotational direction to move the second conduit linearly along the axis in the second linear direction; and 
 lengthening an overall length of the spool in response to rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the second rotational direction. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  comprising adding the spool to a manifold in response to lengthening the overall length of the spool. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the adding the spool to the manifold is performed without altering a physical location of the first flange and without altering a physical location of the second flange. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in a first orientation the spool is at its minimum length; 
 in a second orientation the spool is at its maximum length; 
 in a third orientation the spool has an intermediate length between the minimum length and the maximum length. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  comprising operating the spool and passing fluid through the channel while the spool is in the third orientation. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange is part of a choke. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is oriented vertically with respect to a horizontal earth surface. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 accessing a spool for oilfield manifolds, the spool comprising: (1) a first conduit; (2) a second conduit including threads; (3) a third conduit coupled to the first and second conduits; and (4) a fourth conduit, the fourth conduit including threads that engage the threads of the second conduit; 
 coupling the first conduit to a first flange; 
 coupling the second conduit to a second flange; 
 wherein rotating the fourth conduit about an axis in a first rotational direction moves the second conduit linearly along the axis in a first linear direction; and 
 wherein rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in a second rotational direction moves the second conduit linearly along the axis in a second linear direction; 
 wherein the first, second, and third conduits collectively form a channel that couples first and second opposing ends of the spool to one another and which includes the axis; 
 wherein the first and second rotational directions are opposite of each other and the first and second linear directions are opposite of each other. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  comprising:
 rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the first rotational direction to move the second conduit linearly along the axis in the first linear direction; and 
 shortening an overall length of the spool in response to rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the first rotational direction. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  comprising removing the spool from a manifold in response to shortening the overall length of the spool. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the removing the spool from the manifold is performed without altering a physical location of the first flange and without altering a physical location of the second flange. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  comprising:
 rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the second rotational direction to move the second conduit linearly along the axis in the second linear direction; and 
 lengthening an overall length of the spool in response to rotating the fourth conduit about the axis in the second rotational direction. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  comprising adding the spool to a manifold: (a) in response to lengthening the overall length of the spool, and (b) without altering a physical location of the first flange and without altering a physical location of the second flange.